Plastic dispensing container



Nov. 13, 1962 v. R. ANDERSON 3,063,602

PLASTIC DISPENSING CONTAINER Filed May 11, 1959 3,063,662 PLASTHCDISPENSENG CONTAINER Vincent R. Anderson, Rochester, Mich, assignor toDiamond Crystal Salt Company, a corporation of Michigan Filed May 11,1959, Ser. No. 812,283 2 Claims. (Cl. 222-480) This invention relates toimprovements in containers used for dispensing liquids and powdered andgranulated solids, and more particularly to containers for dispensingbeverages, liquid foods, condiments and the like.

One object of this invention is to provide an inexpensive container ofsimple design and manufacture, suitable for dispensing a variety ofliquids and powdered and granulated solids.

Another object is to provide an improved dispensing container having asnap-on cap or closure which can be removed easily, thereby facilitatingcleaning the interior and refilling the container.

A further object is to provide an improved dispensing container having asnap-on cap which may be selectively rotated to a closed position, apouring position, or a sifting or shaker position whereby the contentscan be poured from an outwardly extending spout from the side wall ofthe cap or ejected from the container through perforations in the sidewall of the cap.

Still another object is to provide improved dispensing containers ofsuch construction that when the containers are empty and the snap-oncaps or closures are removed, the containers may be stacked in a nestedrelation whereby they occupy comparatively small space and from whichrelationship the nested containers may be easily separated and removedfrom the stack.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent froma reading of the following specification in connection with theaccompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an assembled dispensing containerembodying the present invention;

P16. 2 is a sectional view of the container of FIGURE 1 taken along line22 thereof;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view similar to that shown in FIG. 2 butillustrating the relationship of parts after rotating the cap to adifierent position than that shown in FIG. 2;

P16. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view through the cap andcontainer taken along line 4-4- of FIG. 3;

P16. 5 is an elevation view illustrating the stacking or nestingcharacteristics of the containers; and

HG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the stackedcontainers taken along line 66 of H6. 5.

Referring now in detail to the drawings and as best seen in P16. 1, thedispensing container is comprised of a snap-on cap or closure 1 and areceptacle or container 6 so constructed that the snap-on cap 1 may berotated relative to the container 6 enabling the contents therein to bedispensed through the appropriate apertures provided in the cap andcontainer. 'ihe snap-on cap 1 has in its side wall 2 an outwardlyextending spout 3, a vent hole 4 located diametrically opposite to saidspout 3 and a series of spaced perforations 5 angularly disposed fromthe pouring spout 3 along the periphery of the cap side wall 2. Thecontainer 6 at its upper extremity has two elongated apertures 7 and 8,as shown in FIG. 2, equal in size and diametrically opposite to eachother. By rotating the cap, the pouring spout 3 or small perforations 5can be indexed to communicate with apertures 7 or 8, thereby enablingthe contents of the container to be discharged by pouring or sifting,respectively.

3,063,602 Patented Nov. 13, 1962 FIG. 2 illustrates the relationshipbetween the cap and container wherein the pouring spout 3 and vent hole4 have been indexed so as to fully communicate with the apertures 7 and8, respectively, in the container providing maximum exposure of thepouring spout. FIG. 2 further illustrates the comparative width of theapertures 7 and 8 in relation to the width of the opening in the capside wall 2 for the pouring spout 3, vent hole 4 and erforated area 5.To minimize the exactitude required by the user to align the pouringspout 3 or perforations 5 with the apertures 7 or 8 in the container, itis preferred that the width of the apertures 7 and 8 exceed the maximumwidth of the pouring spout 3 or perforated area 5 in the cap side walland a width ratio of approximately 2:1 is satisfactory for this purpose.

FIG. 3 illustrates an alternate pouring position from that shown in FIG.2 wherein the cap 1 has been r0 tated relative to the container 6, sothat only a portion of the pouring spout 3 is in communication withaperture 7 in the container. It will be appreciated that a multitude ofalternate pouring positions other than those shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 areobtainable, dependent on the relative positioning of the cap andcontainer apertures, thereby providing a means for regulating the rateat which the contents may be poured from the container. It will be notedin both FIGS. 2 and 3 that the vent hole 4 continues to communicate withaperture 8 over the entire range of feasible pouring positions from thespout, thereby venting the interior of the container and preventing thecreation of a partial vacuum within the container impeding its pouringcharacteristics. It will be appreciated that the vent hole 4 maysometimes be preferred as a pouring nozzle, in which event the pouringspout 3 will provide the necessary venting action.

In a similar manner by rotating the cap 1 relative to the container 6,the small perforations 5 may be indexed to communicate partially orfully with the aperture 7 or 8 in the container, thereby enablingpowdered or granulated solids to be discharged by sifting or screeningthrough the small holes 5 in the cap side wall 2. The perforated area 5as embodied in the dispensing container shown in FIGURE 1, is comprisedof eight holes arranged in two horizontal rows of four holes each; theholes in the upper row all of equal diameter and somewhat larger thanthose in the row below. This arrangement provides four shaking positionsby selectively exposing two, four, six or all eight holes. The diameterof the perforations 5 is such that granulated materials such as sugar,salt and the like can be freely dispensed through the perforations.Inasmuch as the perforations are primarily employed for dispensingpowdered and granulated solids, venting the container under thesecircumstances is not necessary as in the case when pouring liquids fromthe spout. Accordingly, the vent hole 4 is closed when all or a portionof the perforations are in communication with the aperture 7 in thecontainer, thereby preventing unintentional discharge of the contentsthrough the vent hole 4 while shaking and dispensing the contentsthrough the perforations 5. It will also be noted in FIGS. 2 and 3 thatthe angular disposition of the perforated area 5 relative to the pouringspout 3 is such that it slightly exceeds the width of the aperture 7 inthe container, thereby minimizing the extent to which the snap-on capmust be rotated to alternately select a pouring or sifting position froma closed position intermediate between the two, but concurrentlypreventing the simultaneous pouring and sifting of the contents of thecontainer 2.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that although theaforementioned arrangement of dispensing apertures around the closureside Wall 2 is a preferred embodiment of this invention, numerousmodifications are feasible. For example, the vent hole 4 may be omittedand the perforated area located substantially opposite to the pouringspout 3 such that venting action is provided by perforations 5 duringthe pouring of contents from the container through the spout 3.

The unique method by which the snap-on cap 1 is secured to the container6 sealing the contents therein and. enabling the cap to be selectivelyrotated to the desired dispensing position is illustrated in FIG. 4.Three annular parallel grooves 9 around the inner surface of the capsidewall 2 coincide and engage with three annular beads 10 around theupper outside periphery of the container 6- providing the dual functionof sealing the contents with; the container and acting as a track toguide the cap 1 during its rotation. The annular grooves 9 have beenpositioned around the lower portion of the inner cap side wall 2 so asto faciliate disengagement of the snap-on cap from the container.Additional sealing and rigidity are imparted to the cap and container bythe annular flange 11 being concentric with the cap side wall 2 anddisposed therefrom a distance approximately equal to he wall thicknessof the upper container body. Dimensional tolerances'between the annulargrooves 9 and the annular beads 10 and between the annular flange 11 andupper container body required to achieve a satisfactory seal of thecontents is somewhat dependent upon the characteristics and propertiesof thematerials employed in fabricating the container and snap-on cap.It is desirable to use a material for the cap which is soft, flexibleand elastic in order that the snap-on cap will deform, bend and stretchso as to conform with the contour of the comparatively harder, lessflexible mating surface of the upper container body. Snap-on caps madeof plastic materials such as polyphylene and polypropylene used inconjunction with containers made of a relatively harder plastic, such ashigh impact polystyrene, have evidenced excellent operating and sealingcharacteristics over a period of long usage. teristics imparted to a capcomposed of polyethylene or polypropylene, dimensional tolerancesbetween mating surfaces are not as critical as in cases where a lesspliable plastic material is used. Molded polyethylene snap-on capshaving an inner side wall diameter of approximately Because of theenveloping charac- 0.004 inch less than the diameter of the outerperiphery of the upper container body and tolerances in the order of0.002 inch between mating grooves, beads and flanges have exhibitedexcellent operating and sealing characteristics. V V

The container body 6 is comprised of a substantially frusto-conicalvessel with the walls tapered slightly, e.g. about'S", to the axishaving a flat bottom and around smooth inner surface. The outer surfaceof the container is comprised of longitudinal tangential flat segments12,

.asillustrated in FIGS. 1, 5 and 6, extending up the sides of thecontainer to a point below that at which the cap side wall 2 overlapsthe upper container body but extending upwardly from the bottom adistance suflicient to avoid a stacking. problem. These flat outersegments 12impart additional rigidity to the container and facilitateholding the container while rotating the cap in relation thereto. Itwill be noted that corresponding flat segments are located on the outerperiphery of the cap side wall 2 providing symmetry of design andenhancing the gripping characteristics of the snap-on cap for rotationrelative to the container. Another and'equally important function of theflat segments 12 on the outer container wall is to facilitatedisengagement of stacked or nested containers,

, as illustrated in FIG. 5, by minimizing the surface consegmented outersurface of the inner container, thereby minimizing and limiting contactbetween nested containers to the edges created by adjacent flatsegments. It is critical that the number of fiat segments 12 around theperiphery of the container be restricted to a range between twenty andthirty-two in order to assure a satisfactory molded product. A number offlats less than twenty causes substantial variations in the wallthickness of the container, increasing the susceptibility of shrinkmarks in the molded plasic container body occasioned by the highstresses induced by the dissimilar cooling rates and molding pressuresWithin thick and thin wall sections. With materials sufiicientlyflexible to function saisfactorily with a snap-on cap, the provision ofmore than thirty-two flat segments 12 on the periphery of the containergives too little separation between adjacent surfaces to prevent vacuumsealing upon stacking, thereby making the separation of nestedcontainers diflicult. Furthermore, increasingthe number of flat segments12 above thirty-two reduces the gripping qualities of the containersurface. The structure and composition of the container body should besufficiently rigid so that it will not deform underthand pressuresordinarily exerted while holding the container and sulficiently flexiblein order that the upper container body may be temporarily deformed so asto release the snap-on cap 1 from the engaging annular beads 10 aroundthe upper container body 6. Containers fabricated from moldedhigh-impact polystyrene have the desired rigidity and flexibility andhave proven uniquely compatible when used in conjunction withpolyethylene snap-on caps. It is recognized that containers fabricatedfrom other materials having structural properties similar to those ofhigh impact polystyrene will also be satisfactory.

As above suggested the combination moving seal and snap-Voncharacteristic of the cap and container are partially dependent onrelative flexibility of those members. In general, the cap member shouldbe fabricated from a rnaterial which is more flexible than the containerand yet this flexibility should besufiiciently low such that continueduse does not resultin a permanent stretching or distortion of the cap toan extent which materially reduces the etficiency of the seal. In asimilar manner the container should be sufiiciently inflexible to becomepermanently distorted with use resulting from the peripheral compressionof the cap. Good results have been ob; tained from the use of a varietyof materials as the cap and the container when the above considerationsare observed, for example, a container of cardboard of conventional typeand a cap of one of high impact styrene, high density polyethylene orpolypropylene, a container of high density polypropylene and a cap ofhigh density polyethylene, a container of high density polyethylene anda cap of lower density polyethylene, etc. are all satisfactory. It willbe appreciated that many other combinations of plastic materials orcombinations of inorganic and plastic materials could be used.

The use of a molded polyethylene plastic snap-on cap in conjunction witha molded polystyrene plastic container body provides a dispensingcontainer which is versatile, eflicient, durable and resistant tochemical attack from the varied contents which may be contained in anddispensed therefrom. An additional advantage of these plastic materialsis their susceptibility to be impregnated with suitable pigments anddyes imparting colors of a permanent and durable nature which add to theattractiveness of the dispensing container.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown anddescribed is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and thatvarious changes in the shape, size and details may be resorted towithout departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of thesubjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A dispensing container comprising'a receptacle and a snap-on closure,said receptacle having a bottom portion and a substantiallyfrusto-conical wall integral with said bottom portion and flaringupwardly therefrom, said wall having a smooth inner surface and an outersurface comprised of between twenty and thirty-two tangentiallongitudinally disposed fiat segments extending upwards from the saidbottom portion of said receptacle to a point below that at which thesaid closure overlies the upper extremity of said receptacle, aplurality of annular parallel beads encircling the periphery of saidreceptacle adjacent to the upper end surface thereof, two elongatedapertures in the wall of said receptacle located substantially oppositeto each other and disposed immediately above said annular beads, saidsnap-on closure being a cap having a top portion and an annular sidewall depending therefrom and integral therewith and adapted to overliethe upper extremity of said receptacle, said closure side wall havingalong its outer periphery dispensing apertures including a pouring spoutextending upwardly and outwardly from said side wall, a venting aperturelocated substantially opposite said spout, and a sifting meanscomprising a plurality of closely spaced perforations angularly disposedfrom said spout and said venting aperture, said closure also including asealing flange extending down from the inner surface of said top portionand integral therewith, said flange concentric with said side Wall anddisposed therefrom a distance approximately equal to the thickness ofthe upper wall of said receptacle, a plurality of annular groovesdisposed on the inner surface of the said side wall adapted to engagethe said annular beads on said receptacle to form a rotatable sealtherewith, said dispensing apertures adapted for selective alignmentwith said apertures in said receptacle upon rotation of said closurerelative to said receptacle.

2. A dispensing container as provided for in claim 1 wherein the snap-onclosure is molded polyethylene plastic, and the receptacle is moldedhigh-impact polystyrene.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS587,517 Bar Aug. 3, 1897 1,087,340 Weet Feb. 17, 1914 2,022,343 DroodNov. 26, 1935 2,218,388 Twombly Oct. 15, 1940 2,361,047 Morey Oct. 24,1944 2,695,732 Tupper Nov. 30, 1954 2,742,181 Jarund Apr. 17, 19562,805,005 Kappler Sept. 3, 1957 2,895,656 Stagrneier July 21, 19592,931,541 Southwell Apr. 5, 1960 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICECERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,063,602 7 November 13 1962Vincent R, Anderson It is hereby certified that error appears in theabove numbered patent requiring correction and that the said LettersPatent should read as corrected below.

Column 3 line, 13", for "with" read within line 17 for faciliate? read"-facilitate" line 21 for "he" read the" line 34*," for" "poly-phy-lene"read" po"lyethy lene column 4 line 10", for ""pi'asic read plastinSigned and sealed this 16th day of July 1963.,

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST w. SWIDER DAVID LADD Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents

